A bar graph, also known as a bar graph, is a graph that uses rectangular bars to display different values to show a comparison between categories, such as the amount of rainfall that occurs during several months of the year, or the average salary in different cities.. Bar graphs are usually drawn vertically, although they can also be drawn horizontally. If you want to know how to create your own bar graph, see Step 1 to get started.
Step
Method 1 of 1: Creating Your Own Bar Graph
Step 1. Collect your data
The first thing you should do is collect your data. Keep in mind that a bar graph must show a comparison of several categories. Let's say your goal is to organize data about the amount of rainfall in a city from February 2005 to February 2006. You have to find rainfall data for those months. Once you have the data, you can start drawing graphs.
Another use of rectangular bars in graphs is called a histogram instead of a bar graph, to show a continuous range of data with increasing or decreasing values in a list divided into specific ranges to show their comparison. For example, if you want to measure the number of students in a class based on their height, and one of the data ranges is 120 cm to 130 cm, and so on, you need to use a histogram
Step 2. Draw the x and y axes
This axis will look like a large L shape. Bar graphs are often drawn when a data set is a set of categories (can be time categories), on which to base. The other axis is the value (sales, expense, grade, score, production quantity, other quantity, etc.) for the underlying category, group, or time span.
Step 3. Name the x-axis
Divide the axes by the same size (equal units) by the number of bars that need to be drawn to find the width of each bar. If the result is a fraction, round to the nearest whole number. If the stems don't touch each other, choose a suitable spot and leave a gap between these bars, often from an approximate starting point, such as January, or a certain year. In this case, you should name the x-axis with the name of each month you will use. Suppose you want to graph the months from February 2005 and February 2006.
Name the bottom axis. Once you've marked all the months you want to categorize, you can name the axis. In this case, let's name the axis Moon
Step 4. Name the y-axis
Divide the largest of all bars by the number of lines at the bottom of the axis to determine the distance between each line. If the result is a fraction, round to the nearest whole number. Name the point where the axes meet at point 0. Each line above 0 increases by the same amount until the result is equal to or greater than the highest vertical bar. If you want to describe rainfall, and your rainfall range is between 10 inches and 70 inches, then it makes sense to name the vertical axis in increments of 10, starting at 0, then 10, then 20, and so on.
Step 5. Draw your bar graph
Extend the base that you marked at the bottom on the horizontal line along with the value. If the value falls between the two lines, estimate the correct place for that value. Note that the bars are usually separate (not continuous), because they compare different values but for the same thing, unless this is a distribution (histogram).
For example, if it rained to 0.75 m in February 2005, then elevate the trunk by 0.75 inch. If it rains up to 0.5 m in March, 2005, then draw the trunk correctly
Step 6. Interpret the data
Since you've created your bar graph, you'll be able to read the data better because you've drawn it. You can go back and see important aspects of this data. Here are a few things to note:
- Outliers. Outliers are chunks of data that fall outside the normal range of data that you collect. In this case, the 1.75 m rainfall, which occurred in February 2006 is an outlier because the other data are below the value, with the next highest rainfall rate being 1 m.
- Gap. Look for gaps in the data. There are gaps in the data, or absence of precipitation, in July, as well as in the months between August and February.
- Frequency. Notice if there are values that appear frequently. In this bar graph, the most frequent occurrence is 0.25 m of rainfall, which occurs during April, May and June.
- Cluster. Look for clusters or groups of data. Most of the rainfall occurred around February, March, and April 2005.
Tips
- More complicated bar charts can be drawn if each range has two or more values. In this case, dividing the distance between the rods will cause several rods to touch. Go through each data set starting with the leftmost bar, and color each bar a different color.
- Bar graphs can also be drawn from the side by swapping the positions of the vertical and horizontal lines.
